Adjustable-can-track cooker



May 22, 1934. A. R. THOMPSON ADJUSTABLE CAN TRACK COOKER Filed Jan. 26,1932 INVENTOR, 626m W. Min /,4 w, 73mfv UMP? ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES A'E'ENT GFFICE ADJUSTABLE-CAN-TRACKCOOKER Albert R. Thompson, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Food MachineryCorporation, San Jose, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware The present invention relates to that class ofcookers and other apparatus for treating canned goods in which the cansare propelled around a helical track by an interior revolving reelhaving a plurality of longitudinally disposed pusher bars.

One object of the invention is to provide means for adjustablysupporting the can track or helix in order to establish and maintain itsproper concentric alignment with respect to the revolving reel withinit. Cookers of this type are frequently made as long as thirty feet witha diameter of about five feet, and in machines of such dimensions it hasbeen found dimcult to maintain correct alignment between the helix andthe reel. If the space between the helical can track and the pusher barsof the reel is too small at any particular point, the bars will bindagainst the track, and if the space is too great, one or more cans mayjump either the track or the reel bar, thereby jamming and causing aserious delay in the operation of the machine. It is especiallyimportant to maintain accurate alignment in machines which are used forcans of more than one diameter, as is frequently done; when such amachine is operating upon cans of the smallest size for which it isdesigned, faulty alignment of the helix of only one quarter of an inchmay cause a can to jump and jam.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the interior spaceestablished in the lower portion of the cooker, which iscustomarilypartially filled with hot water, thereby'conserving both waterand heat.Athird object is to provide the maximum rigidity with minimum weight.

A still further object is to provide a machine from which the helix ofthe reel can be'removed from the top, for necessary repair orreplacement', thereby saving floor space, over the usual machines whichare so constructed that the reel must be removed from one end. The lastthree objects above enumerated are achieved by constructing the shell ortank of the cooker with ,5 a round or semi-cylindrical bottom, and arectangular or flat top. The flat top also provides convenient access tothe interior for cleaning and minor repairs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention so. will become apparentfrom the following description of a preferred form thereof, which shouldbe read with the understanding that changes, withinthe limits of theclaims hereto appended, may be made in the form, construction, andarrangements' of the several parts.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is atransverse section of my cooker.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of one end portion thereof. a0

.Fig. 3 is a detailed plan, enlarged, of a portion of the bottom of thehelix and tank, showing one of the'bottom helix adjusting members.

Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the tank.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a shell or tankhaving a semicylindrical bottom and a rectangular flat top closed by asuitable'removable cover 2. Ends 3, one of which is shown in Fig. 2,complete the tank. Suitable cradles 4 support the tank, and because ofthe rigidity inherent in the semicylindrical lower portion, it isusually necessary to employ only two such cradles, as indicated'in Fig.4, the ends of the tank being cantilevered beyond said cradles.

Within the tank is a helical can track formed from a rail 5 ofT-section'. The helix is held together, to preserve proper spacingbetween its adjacent convolutions, by a plurality of longitudinallydisposed angle bars 6, there being preferably six such bars, as shown inFig. 1. Thehelix is suspended within the tank by means of adjustablehangers '7, which are hooked or otherwise secured to certain of thelongitudinal angle bars 6. The hangers 7 extend through brackets 8secured to the interior side walls of the tank, and are provided withnuts 9 above said brackets.

Lateral adjustment of the helix is provided by connections with the sidewalls of the tank. For 4 this purpose the helix is provided withlongitudinal bars 10, through which extend bolts 11, the ends of saidbolts passing through theside walls of the tank. The heads of the boltslie inside the bars 10 between theT-rails of the helix. Nuts 12 arethreaded upon the bolts immediately out- 5 side said bars, and nuts 13are also threaded upon the bolts inside and outside of the wall of thetank. The holes through which the bolts extend,

either in the bars l0or the wall of the tank, or

both, are preferably larger than the bolts to allow sufficient play topermit vertical adjustment of the helix when the nuts 12 and Bareloosened. Lateral adjustment of the lower portion of the helix isprovided by the following means. In

the bottom of the tank, approximately along its center line, are anumber of interiorly threaded bushings, one of which is shown at 14, inFigs. 1

and 3. A stud 15 is screwed through each of said bushings, and isprovided with a wrench receiving head on its outer end, and aneccentrically dis- I10 posed pin 16 on its inner end. The pin 16 restswithin a groove or channel 1'7 formed upon the bottom longitudinal anglebar of the helix, so that turning the stud will shift the lower portionof the helix laterally. A look nut 18 is provided upon the stud to lockit in adjusted position and to prevent leakage of water around itsthreads.

The upper portions of the sides of the tank are braced to each other andto the uppenportion of the helix by transverse bolts 19 which extendthrough the top angle bar of said helix. Tubular spacers 20 surroundsaid bolts between said angle bar and the sides of the tank.

The usual can propelling reel 21 is rotatably mounted within the helixand is provided with longitudinal pusher bars 22 for propelling the cansin the usual manner around the track formed by the helical T-rail. Theends of the reel 21 are journaled in suitable bearings 24, carried byframes 25 secured to the ends 3 of the tank. The ends of thelongitudinal bars 6 of the helix are also secured to said frames 25, sothat the helix is accurately centered 'at its ends about the axis of thereel.

The reel is rotated and cans are fed into and discharged :from themachine in the customary manner. Fig. 4 of the drawing shows a can"entrance at 26 and can exit at 27. The tank is customarily filled withwater to about the level of the can exits 2'7, and said water is heatedby steam pipes '28 preferably disposed longitudinally in the bottom ofthe tank between its wall and the helical rail '5. Auxiliary steam pipes29 are also positioned in the upper portion of the tank.

The hangers :and lateral adjusting connections of the helix arepreferably located about three or four feet apart in the length of thetank, as indicated in Fig. 4. After the machine is assembled,

. the "hangers 7 are adjusted to provide the proper vertical clearancebetween the reel bars and the helical track; then the side bolts 11 andthe bottom studs 15 are adjusted to provide the proper lateralclearance; and, finally, the transverse bolts 19 across the top of thetank .are put in position with the spacers 20 of the proper length tohold the upper portion of the helix and the sides of the tank in correctlateral relation. By this means the helix can be accurately centeredthroughout its entire length about the reel, so that its alignment isestablished and maintained.

It should'be noted that because the. helix is supported at frequent"intervals in its length, it can be made of "lighter material than wouldotherwise be the case. "This applies especially to the longitudinal bars'6, which can be not only lighter but smaller .in width, so that thebottom of the tank can be brought closer toth'e can track, therebyreducing the space within the tankwhich must be supplied with water andheat.

It 'isalso to be 'noted'that the shape of'the tank itself saves interiorspace because of its semicylindrical lower portion. The semicylindricalform of the ilowe'rportion of the tank, moreover, greatlyincreaSes'itsrigidity, and permits lighter material to be used. Therectangular upper por- Far propelling reel therewithin; bearing membersfor supporting said reel at its ends; a can track member surroundingsaid reel, said track member being in the form of a continuous helixhaving its ends connected with said bearing members; and means foradjustably supporting said can track member intermediate its ends tocenter its intermediate portion about said reel.

2. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotating can propelling reeltherewithin; a continuous helical can track member surrounding saidreel; and connecting means between said track member and the walls-ofsaid tank for supporting said track member, said connecting means beingadjustable to shift said track member bodily to center it about the axisof said reel.

3. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotating can propelling reeltherewithin; a can track member surrounding said reel; means foradjustably suspending said track member from said tank; and other meansfor adjusting said track member laterally to align it about said reel.

4. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotating can propelling reeltherewithin; a can track member supported within said tank andsurrounding said reel; and means extending through the bottom of saidtank and engaging said track member for laterally adjusting itsposition.

5. A cookercomprising a tank; a rotating can propelling reeltherewithin; a can track member supported within said tank andsurrounding said reel; "a rotatable stud extending through a wall ofsaid tank; and a pin eccentrically carried by said stud within saidtank, said pin-engaging said track member for moving it upon rotation-ofsaid stud.

6. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotating can propelling reeltherewithin; a can track member supported within said tank andsurroundingsa'id reel; adjustable connections between the sides andbottom of said tankand said track member for shifting it laterally.

7. A cooker comprising a tank having :an approximately semicylindricalbottom and sides extending vertically upward therefrom; :a removablecover for closing the top of :said tank; a can "propelling reelrotatably mounted-within said tank; a can track :member surrounding saidreal within said tank; .and adjustable connections between the walls ofthe .tank :and said track member for shifting said track relatively :tothe axis of said reel.

8. A cooker comprising :a tank having an approximately semicylindricalbottom'and sides extending vertically upward therefrom; a removable-cover for closing the top of said tank; .a can propelling reelrotatably mounted withinsaid tank; and a can track member surroundingsaid reel within said tank, said track member being supported by saidtank .for adjustment relative to the axis of said reel and removablethrough the top of said tank.

9. A cooker comprising a tank having side walls and a removable top; acan propelling .reel

rotatably mounted within .said tank; a helical rail forming a can tracksurrounding said reel within said tank; longitudinal members connectingthe convolutions of said rail together, one of said members beingpositioned at the top ofsaid convolutions; and spacing means connectingsaid top longitudinal member with the's'ides of said tank.

10. A cooker comprising a tank; a can .propelling reel rotatably mountedtherewithin; a helical rail forming a can track surrounding said reelwithin said tank; longitudinal members connecting the convolutions ofsaid rail together; and means for adjustably connecting saidlongitudinal members with said tank for supporting said track andcentering it about said reel.

11. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotatable can propelling reeltherewithin; bearings supported by the ends of said tank for carryingsaid reel; a helical rail forming a can track surrounding said reel;longitudinal members connecting the convolutions of said rail together,the ends of said members being connected with the ends of the tank; andmeans adjustably connecting said members intermediate their ends withthe sides of said tank.

12. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotatable can propelling reeltherewithin; a helical can track member surrounding said reel; means forsupporting said track member Within the tank; and means for adjustingsaid track member both laterally and vertically with respect to saidreel to align said track member about said reel.

13. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotatable can propelling reeltherewithin; a continuous helical can track member having its endssupported in fixed position at the ends of the tank; and means foradjustably positioning the intermediate portion of the can track memberto align it with the reel throughout its length.

14. A cooker comprising a tank; a rotatable can propelling reeltherewithin; a helical can track member having its ends supported infixed position at the ends of the tank; and means for adjustablypositioning the intermediate portion of the track member both laterallyand vertically to align it with respect to the reel throughout itslength.

15. A cooker comprising a tank having an open top; a removable covertherefor; a rotatable can propelling reel therewithin; a helical cantrack member surrounding said reel, said track member and said reelbeing removable bodily through the top of said tank; and means foradjusting the annular space between said reel and said track, while insaid tank, to align them axially.

16. A cooker comprising a tank having an open top; a removable covertherefor; a rotatable can propelling reel therewithin; a helical cantrack member surrounding said reel, the ends of said track member beingsupported in fixed position at the ends of the tank, and said reel andsaid track member being removable bodily through the top of said tank;and means for adjustably positioning the intermediate portion of saidtrack member to align it with said reel throughout its length. I

1'7. In a cooker for canned goods, a helical ca track; means connectingthe convolutions thereof together to form an elongated continuoushelical track structure; an elongated reel rotatably mounted within saidtrack structure; pusher members carried by said reel for propelling thecans around said helical track; and means for flexing the longitudinalaxis of said track structure to enable it to be centered accuratelyabout said reel throughout its entire length.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

